Mystery of missing virgins, solved

[JJ Sinclair]

Recently Zero Sinco went searching the streets of LA for a virgin to sacrifice
in his vernal equinox ceremony. after 2 weeks, John abandoned his search,
saying, "there is no virgins left in LA".

The mystery of the missing virgins has been solved. Today, an unwilling youth
with a device secured to his body, gave up without detonating his bomb. He was
carrying a voucher for 72 virgins to be used at his discretion, in heven.

The World-Wide shortage of virgins has had a detrimental affect on Jihad
recruitment and undisclosed sources indicated that if a reliable source of
virgins isn't found, soon, a *recurring virgin* status may be in the offing. It
is anticipated that each virgin may be asked to provide services to several
teen age cruse missiles.

Logged 3.2 hrs in the Genesis, last week. Got out-climbed by a para-glider. So,
there, this IS about soaring.
JJ Sinclair

[chris]

JJ,
Sounds like you've been going to group therapy with Lennie.

:-)
Chris

(JJ Sinclair) wrote in message >...
> Recently Zero Sinco went searching the streets of LA for a virgin to sacrifice
> in his vernal equinox ceremony. after 2 weeks, John abandoned his search,
> saying, "there is no virgins left in LA".
>
> The mystery of the missing virgins has been solved. Today, an unwilling youth
> with a device secured to his body, gave up without detonating his bomb. He was
> carrying a voucher for 72 virgins to be used at his discretion, in heven.
>
> The World-Wide shortage of virgins has had a detrimental affect on Jihad
> recruitment and undisclosed sources indicated that if a reliable source of
> virgins isn't found, soon, a *recurring virgin* status may be in the offing. It
> is anticipated that each virgin may be asked to provide services to several
> teen age cruse missiles.
>
> Logged 3.2 hrs in the Genesis, last week. Got out-climbed by a para-glider. So,
> there, this IS about soaring.
> JJ Sinclair

[One9er]

JJ,

I know you're drinking no more on the job. But please, remind us that you're
drinking no less.

Your pal,
Eagle eye II

[Gus Rasch]

(JJ Sinclair) wrote in message > Logged 3.2 hrs in the Genesis, last week. Got out-climbed by a para-glider. So,
> there, this IS about soaring.
> JJ Sinclair




JJ,

Having over 250 hours in my paramotor, which is simply a self launch
capable paraglider, I have hung in there with the high performance
glass many times.

What they lack in total performance they make up for with the ability
to thermal the tightest of cores allowing you to get to the sweet spot
and absolutely peg a vario.

The other benifit of coming from hang gliders and paragliders is that
they allow you to feel and learn all the nuances of a thermal in such
detail that can never be experienced in a conventional sailplane.

With a paraglider it is truely amazing to watch and feel the wing
move, surge and respond to every little bit of lift, turbulence, shear
and sink. There is nothing quite like the initial surge as the wing
loads up and moves forward when you fly into big lift. What follows
is a virtual elevator ride with the vario screaming while you stand it
on a wing tip and try not to get spit out.

I am convinced that a season spent flying either of these lighter and
lower performance aircraft would make a better soaring pilot out of
anyone who did so. They simply have a lot to teach about the air we
fly in that cannot be experienced tucked inside of fiberglass and
lexan.

Gus Rasch
Pitts S1S
N21JF

PS - All that said, I'm addicted to high performance too! :-)

[JJ Sinclair]

Flying with the paraglider was a beautiful sight with the pilot suspended below
a long eliptical wing, tugging on the risers and grinning at me. We must have
spent an hour together, some ridge, some thermal. He was able to stay above me.
I figure his wing loading was way down around 2.5 lb/sq/ft. I needed 6K to
start a final glide back to Williams, finally got it and took off on my 33 mile
final glide. He went back to his launch ridge utilizing his 7:1 glide ratio.

It looked like fun, but I don't have the guts to do that, I NEED structure
around me.
JJ Sinclair

[Steve / Sperry]

Just curious about the light wing loading of the Paragliders... I
understand that the canopy has a tendency to fold up in turbulence.
Now that has to be a rush!

I do like the idea that your aircraft will fit in your backpack...
beats having to hike back down the hill.

Steve


On 26 Mar 2004 13:26:22 -0800, (Gus Rasch)
wrote:

(JJ Sinclair) wrote in message > Logged 3.2 hrs in the Genesis, last week. Got out-climbed by a para-glider. So,
>> there, this IS about soaring.
>> JJ Sinclair
>
>
>
>
>JJ,
>
>Having over 250 hours in my paramotor, which is simply a self launch
>capable paraglider, I have hung in there with the high performance
>glass many times.
>
>What they lack in total performance they make up for with the ability
>to thermal the tightest of cores allowing you to get to the sweet spot
>and absolutely peg a vario.
>
>The other benifit of coming from hang gliders and paragliders is that
>they allow you to feel and learn all the nuances of a thermal in such
>detail that can never be experienced in a conventional sailplane.
>
>With a paraglider it is truely amazing to watch and feel the wing
>move, surge and respond to every little bit of lift, turbulence, shear
>and sink. There is nothing quite like the initial surge as the wing
>loads up and moves forward when you fly into big lift. What follows
>is a virtual elevator ride with the vario screaming while you stand it
>on a wing tip and try not to get spit out.
>
>I am convinced that a season spent flying either of these lighter and
>lower performance aircraft would make a better soaring pilot out of
>anyone who did so. They simply have a lot to teach about the air we
>fly in that cannot be experienced tucked inside of fiberglass and
>lexan.
>
>Gus Rasch
>Pitts S1S
>N21JF
>
>PS - All that said, I'm addicted to high performance too! :-)

[Gary Boggs]

Hey guys, let's get back to the virgins, OK?

--
Gary Boggs
3650 Airport Dr.
Hood River, Oregon, USA
97031-9613
"Steve / Sperry" > wrote in message
...
Just curious about the light wing loading of the Paragliders... I
understand that the canopy has a tendency to fold up in turbulence.
Now that has to be a rush!

I do like the idea that your aircraft will fit in your backpack...
beats having to hike back down the hill.

Steve


On 26 Mar 2004 13:26:22 -0800, (Gus Rasch)
wrote:

(JJ Sinclair) wrote in message > Logged 3.2 hrs in the
Genesis, last week. Got out-climbed by a para-glider. So,
>> there, this IS about soaring.
>> JJ Sinclair
>
>
>
>
>JJ,
>
>Having over 250 hours in my paramotor, which is simply a self launch
>capable paraglider, I have hung in there with the high performance
>glass many times.
>
>What they lack in total performance they make up for with the ability
>to thermal the tightest of cores allowing you to get to the sweet spot
>and absolutely peg a vario.
>
>The other benifit of coming from hang gliders and paragliders is that
>they allow you to feel and learn all the nuances of a thermal in such
>detail that can never be experienced in a conventional sailplane.
>
>With a paraglider it is truely amazing to watch and feel the wing
>move, surge and respond to every little bit of lift, turbulence, shear
>and sink. There is nothing quite like the initial surge as the wing
>loads up and moves forward when you fly into big lift. What follows
>is a virtual elevator ride with the vario screaming while you stand it
>on a wing tip and try not to get spit out.
>
>I am convinced that a season spent flying either of these lighter and
>lower performance aircraft would make a better soaring pilot out of
>anyone who did so. They simply have a lot to teach about the air we
>fly in that cannot be experienced tucked inside of fiberglass and
>lexan.
>
>Gus Rasch
>Pitts S1S
>N21JF
>
>PS - All that said, I'm addicted to high performance too! :-)

[Gus Rasch]

Steve / Sperry > wrote in message >...
> Just curious about the light wing loading of the Paragliders... I
> understand that the canopy has a tendency to fold up in turbulence.
> Now that has to be a rush!



Granted, the light wing loading and lack of structure do make the wing
capable of collapsing but...

The wings have remarkable resistance to taking collapses. In 250
hours of flying in some of the strongest Texas summer conditions I
have only taken a few and all of them have sorted themselves out
without pilot input or significant altitude loss.

Part of learning to fly these flexable wings is learning to first
avoid collapses through active piloting techniques and then to deal
with collapses and correct them if and when they do occur.

Worst case scenario... The wing has collapsed dramatically and all
attempts to fix the situation have failed miserably, I would go to
plan "B". Plan "B" is of course the chest mounted hand deployed
parachute.

Gus Rasch

[Stewart Kissel]

I see these guys in the morning flying around off the
ski lifts, the ones I have talked to are very respectful
of the big mountain air. You got me curious, if you
have a collapse and decide you need to throw your reserve,
how much altitude do you need?




>Worst case scenario... The wing has collapsed dramatically
>and all
>attempts to fix the situation have failed miserably,
>I would go to
>plan 'B'. Plan 'B' is of course the chest mounted
>hand deployed
>parachute.
>
>Gus Rasch
>

[Steve Pawling]

There have been several documented paraglider saves from under 150
feet. It is, however, highly recommended to not push the lower
altitude limit for deployment - 500' is better. See:

http://www.hpac.ca/safety/statistics/chute.html#statschute

All the best,
Steve
LS-3a / Wedge Softie, FFE Preserve 1C
Arcus XL / FFE LARA 250


Stewart Kissel > wrote in message >...
> I see these guys in the morning flying around off the
> ski lifts, the ones I have talked to are very respectful
> of the big mountain air. You got me curious, if you
> have a collapse and decide you need to throw your reserve,
> how much altitude do you need?
>
>
>
>
> >Worst case scenario... The wing has collapsed dramatically
> >and all
> >attempts to fix the situation have failed miserably,
> >I would go to
> >plan 'B'. Plan 'B' is of course the chest mounted
> >hand deployed
> >parachute.
> >
> >Gus Rasch
> >

[Gus Rasch]

Stewart,

The reserve chutes are designed for simplicity, reliability and fast
opening times. There have been recorded saves as low as 100 feet.
This is of course not a deployment attempt in free-fall at terminal
velocity. When a wing takes a collapse of such magnitude as to
require the reserve it still provides for a reasonably low vertical
velocity.

If I were to take a collapse at altitude I would do my best to work
the situation out while altitude permitted. Passing through 1000 feet
I would start thinking hard about the reserve and certainly toss the
laundry at no less than 500. Given the opening times and altitude
loss in a typical thrown reserve situation that should give me enough
time to finish ****ting my pants and prepare for a proper PLF. :-)

Gus Rasch





Stewart Kissel > wrote in message >...
> I see these guys in the morning flying around off the
> ski lifts, the ones I have talked to are very respectful
> of the big mountain air. You got me curious, if you
> have a collapse and decide you need to throw your reserve,
> how much altitude do you need?
>
>
>
>
> >Worst case scenario... The wing has collapsed dramatically
> >and all
> >attempts to fix the situation have failed miserably,
> >I would go to
> >plan 'B'. Plan 'B' is of course the chest mounted
> >hand deployed
> >parachute.
> >
> >Gus Rasch
> >

[Tony Verhulst]

Steve / Sperry wrote:
> Just curious about the light wing loading of the Paragliders... I
> understand that the canopy has a tendency to fold up in turbulence.


Yeah. Ask John Good about that one sometime. He's been there, done that,
and has the hospital bill to prove it.

Tony V.

[Vorsanger1]

Everytime I see the thread header "Mystery of missing virgins", I check it,
hoping to learn more about them. Instead, we are now chatting about
paragliders, parasailers, etc...Let's go back to the real stuff: sailplanes or
virgins.

Cheers, Charles

[Stewart Kissel]

Fair enough-

Although our poster from Texas has written of his experience
in these things with what I assume would be strong
thermals, I still have to wonder how they do taking
the big-G hits that are not uncommon in strong conditions.
As I stated in a previous post, I only really see
them about in the mornig taking sled rides.



At 18:30 29 March 2004, Vorsanger1 wrote:
>Everytime I see the thread header 'Mystery of missing
>virgins', I check it,
>>paragliders, parasailers, etc>

[Eric Greenwell]

Stewart Kissel wrote:
> Fair enough-
>
> Although our poster from Texas has written of his experience
> in these things with what I assume would be strong
> thermals, I still have to wonder how they do taking
> the big-G hits that are not uncommon in strong conditions.
> As I stated in a previous post, I only really see
> them about in the mornig taking sled rides.

Perhaps if you are flying slowly, you do not encounter "big-G hits", as
the thermal will not seem so "sharp-edged"? We see many para-gliders in
the middle of the day when flying out of Ephrata (Washington State)
during our Regional contest, as they often have their contest at the
same time.


--
-----
change "netto" to "net" to email me directly

Eric Greenwell
Washington State
USA

[Cliff Hilty]

At 18:30 29 March 2004, Vorsanger1 wrote:
>Everytime I see the thread header 'Mystery of missing
>virgins', I check it,
>hoping to learn more about them. Instead, we are now
>chatting about
>paragliders, parasailers, etc...Let's go back to the
>real stuff: sailplanes or
>virgins.
>
>Cheers, Charles

Here ya go Charles,

I once SAW a virgin at a gliderport! Of course she
was only 13 so I think she stayed that way for a little
while at least. After all it wasn't Texas or Tennesee!)

[Steve Pawling]

Stewart,

All I can say is that you have to try it for yourself to know for
sure. And you can be sure that it's not just about morning sled rides.

100% motorless flight,
Steve

Stewart Kissel > wrote in message >...
> Fair enough-
>
> Although our poster from Texas has written of his experience
> in these things with what I assume would be strong
> thermals, I still have to wonder how they do taking
> the big-G hits that are not uncommon in strong conditions.
> As I stated in a previous post, I only really see
> them about in the mornig taking sled rides.
>
>
>
> At 18:30 29 March 2004, Vorsanger1 wrote:
> >Everytime I see the thread header 'Mystery of missing
> >virgins', I check it,
> >>paragliders, parasailers, etc>

[Andy Kirkland]

Reserve parachute in action:

http://www.skysystems.co.uk/collect/midair.jpg

Depolyed at around 100' - both pilots survived (both VERY lucky) with no
injuries...

Andy

--
Andy Kirkland
a n d y k @ g l i d e r p i l o t . n e t

My eBay Auctions http://ebay.andykirkland.co.uk

[Gus Rasch]

Stewart Kissel > wrote in message >...
> Fair enough-
>
> Although our poster from Texas has written of his experience
> in these things with what I assume would be strong
> thermals, I still have to wonder how they do taking
> the big-G hits that are not uncommon in strong conditions.
> As I stated in a previous post, I only really see
> them about in the mornig taking sled rides.
>



Stewart,

As I am an experienced paraglider pilot and actively seek out the "Big
Air" I typically don't launch till 10 or 11 o'clock.

While sled rides are fine for students, newbies and the less
adventuress you will typically find that the seasoned pilots opt for
stronger conditions.

Granted, we do fly a flex wing and there comes a point where the air
is simply too big to fly. I personally have not found that limit and
I have flown on some of the biggest strongest summer days that you can
find in the Houston, TX area. In reference to big-G hits.....

I love them! The bigger the stronger the better! It just tells me
that I am going to need to turn RIGHT now and TIGHTLY to stay in the
core. More than once I have flown into lift so hard that there was an
audible pop as the wing loaded up and it felt like God had reached
down and snatched me up by the risers!

Rest assured, while you may have only seen a few guys taking sled
rides in the morning; there is a whole lotta guys and gals who look
for and exclusively fly the "big air". These same people are setting
some unbelievable world records with an aircraft that you can fold up
and carry under your arm.

Gus Rasch
DK-GT/Octane
Pitts S1S / N21JF